The Tesla Model S Long Range Plus has officially received a 402-mile range rating from the Environmental Protection Agency, according to the FuelEconomy.gov website.
The Model S Long Range Plus received a 391-mile rating from the EPA in April, but the test was flawed CEO Elon Musk said.
“It should be said that the real Model S range is 400 miles,” Musk said during the Q1 Earnings Call on April 29. “But when we did the last EPA test, unfortunately, the EPA left the car door open and the keys in the car.”
The Long Range Plus has around 5% more efficiency compared to the 2020 Long Range model. The Tesla team stated in a blog posting that mass reduction, new “Tempest” Aero Wheels and Tires, increased efficiency of the drive unit, and regenerative braking improvements contributed to the Model S Long Range’s increased driving distance.
The Model S Long Range Plus utilizes a 100 kWh battery pack to power its extended travel capabilities. However, the car isn’t just suitable for long trips; it also packs a punch. With a 155 MPH and 0-60 time of 3.7 seconds, the Model S Long Range Plus will also satisfy the speed needs of anyone who requires an extra thrill.
While Musk was right about the real range capabilities of the Model S Long Range, the accomplishment is a testament to Tesla’s battery tech developments that have been a primary focus of the electric automaker for years.
Tesla has worked toward developing its own high-tech battery cells to achieve long-lasting and affordable packs for its vehicles and energy storage systems. After working with Jeff Dahn and his team of battery researchers and acquiring companies like Maxwell Technologies and Hibar Systems, Tesla made significant strides toward developing in-house cells that will revolutionize electric mobility.
The company plans to outline its new battery developments and technology discoveries at its “Battery Day” in September.
Tesla continues to push toward the improvement of its battery packs by utilizing different electrolyte solutions and electrode makeups. The company continues to submit patents that describe advances in the efficiency and performance of its battery packs.
Another focus of Tesla’s battery developments is eliminating the use of cobalt from its cells. Cobalt is effective in maintaining cycle stability in lithium-ion cells, but it is controversial due to its mining and labor practices. Tesla utilizes a series of third-party due diligence measures to ensure that the cobalt used in its batteries is responsibly sourced.
Although cobalt will eventually be removed from Tesla’s batteries, the company did sign a multi-year deal with Swiss-based Glencore to fulfill its needs for the mineral at Giga Berlin and Giga Shanghai.
The inclusion of the 402-mile range rating on the FuelEconomy.gov website is symbolic of Tesla’s sizeable lead in battery tech and efficiency. The company continues to improve the range of its vehicles through cell developments and software updates, and “Battery Day” will likely reveal what Tesla has been working toward behind the scenes for its “Roadrunner” project.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk’s Boring Company opens Vegas Loop’s newest station
The Fontainebleau is the latest resort on the Las Vegas Strip to embrace the tunneling startup’s underground transportation system.
Elon Musk’s tunneling startup, The Boring Company, has welcomed its newest Vegas Loop station at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas.
The Fontainebleau is the latest resort on the Las Vegas Strip to embrace the tunneling startup’s underground transportation system.
Fontainebleau Loop station
The new Vegas Loop station is located on level V-1 of the Fontainebleau’s south valet area, as noted in a report from the Las Vegas Review-Journal. According to the resort, guests will be able to travel free of charge to the stations serving the Las Vegas Convention Center, as well as to Loop stations in Encore and Westgate.
The Fontainebleau station connects to the Riviera Station, which is located in the northwest parking lot of the convention center’s West Hall. From there, passengers will be able to access the greater Vegas Loop.
Vegas Loop expansion
In December, The Boring Company began offering Vegas Loop rides to and from Harry Reid International Airport. Those trips include a limited above-ground segment, following approval from the Nevada Transportation Authority to allow surface street travel tied to Loop operations.
Under the approval, airport rides are limited to no more than four miles of surface street travel, and each trip must include a tunnel segment. The Vegas Loop currently includes more than 10 miles of tunnels. From this number, about four miles of tunnels are operational.
The Boring Company President Steve Davis previously told the Review-Journal that the University Center Loop segment, which is currently under construction, is expected to open in the first quarter of 2026. That extension would allow Loop vehicles to travel beneath Paradise Road between the convention center and the airport, with a planned station located just north of Tropicana Avenue.
News
Tesla leases new 108k-sq ft R&D facility near Fremont Factory
The lease adds to Tesla’s presence near its primary California manufacturing hub as the company continues investing in autonomy and artificial intelligence.
Tesla has expanded its footprint near its Fremont Factory by leasing a 108,000-square-foot R&D facility in the East Bay.
The lease adds to Tesla’s presence near its primary California manufacturing hub as the company continues investing in autonomy and artificial intelligence.
A new Fremont lease
Tesla will occupy the entire building at 45401 Research Ave. in Fremont, as per real estate services firm Colliers. The transaction stands as the second-largest R&D lease of the fourth quarter, trailing only a roughly 115,000-square-foot transaction by Figure AI in San Jose.
As noted in a Silicon Valley Business Journal report, Tesla’s new Fremont lease was completed with landlord Lincoln Property Co., which owns the facility. Colliers stated that Tesla’s Fremont expansion reflects continued demand from established technology companies that are seeking space for engineering, testing, and specialized manufacturing.
Tesla has not disclosed which of its business units will be occupying the building, though Colliers has described the property as suitable for office and R&D functions. Tesla has not issued a comment about its new Fremont lease as of writing.
AI investments
Silicon Valley remains a key region for automakers as vehicles increasingly rely on software, artificial intelligence, and advanced electronics. Erin Keating, senior director of economics and industry insights at Cox Automotive, has stated that Tesla is among the most aggressive auto companies when it comes to software-driven vehicle development.
Other automakers have also expanded their presence in the area. Rivian operates an autonomy and core technology hub in Palo Alto, while GM maintains an AI center of excellence in Mountain View. Toyota is also relocating its software and autonomy unit to a newly upgraded property in Santa Clara.
Despite these expansions, Colliers has noted that Silicon Valley posted nearly 444,000 square feet of net occupancy losses in Q4 2025, pushing overall vacancy to 11.2%.
In Pennsylvania, we got between 10 and 12 inches of snow over the weekend as a nasty Winter storm ripped through a large portion of the country, bringing snow to some areas and nasty ice storms to others.
I have had a Model Y Performance for the week courtesy of Tesla, which got the car to me last Monday. Today was my last full day with it before I take it back to my local showroom, and with all the accumulation on it, I decided to run a cool little experiment: How long would it take for Tesla’s Defrost feature to melt 8 inches of snow?
Tesla’s Defrost feature is one of the best and most underrated that the car has in its arsenal. While every car out there has a defrost setting, Tesla’s can be activated through the Smartphone App and is one of the better-performing systems in my opinion.
It has come in handy a lot through the Fall and Winter, helping clear up my windshield more efficiently while also clearing up more of the front glass than other cars I’ve owned.
The test was simple: don’t touch any of the ice or snow with my ice scraper, and let the car do all the work, no matter how long it took. Of course, it would be quicker to just clear the ice off manually, but I really wanted to see how long it would take.
Tesla Model Y heat pump takes on Model S resistive heating in defrosting showdown
Observations
I started this test at around 10:30 a.m. It was still pretty cloudy and cold out, and I knew the latter portion of the test would get some help from the Sun as it was expected to come out around noon, maybe a little bit after.
I cranked it up and set my iPhone up on a tripod, and activated the Time Lapse feature in the Camera settings.
The rest of the test was sitting and waiting.
It didn’t take long to see some difference. In fact, by the 20-minute mark, there was some notable melting of snow and ice along the sides of the windshield near the A Pillar.
However, this test was not one that was “efficient” in any manner; it took about three hours and 40 minutes to get the snow to a point where I would feel comfortable driving out in public. In no way would I do this normally; I simply wanted to see how it would do with a massive accumulation of snow.
It did well, but in the future, I’ll stick to clearing it off manually and using the Defrost setting for clearing up some ice before the gym in the morning.
Check out the video of the test below:
❄️ How long will it take for the Tesla Model Y Performance to defrost and melt ONE FOOT of snow after a blizzard?
Let’s find out: pic.twitter.com/Zmfeveap1x
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) January 26, 2026
Elon Musk’s Boring Company opens Vegas Loop’s newest station
Tesla leases new 108k-sq ft R&D facility near Fremont Factory
